Starting on March 28, United Airlines will welcome back 2,000 workers that aren’t vaccinated against COVID

Employees that were placed on unpaid leave last year because they were unvaccinated against COVID-19, due to a medical or religious exemption will now be able to return to work.

United Airlines informed the federal appeals court that the new policy comes as the scope and severity of the pandemic have changed, along with the guidance of public health authorities.

The company’s vice president of human relations, Kirk Limacher, said this change comes as COVID-19 case numbers have decreased since the middle of January.

“Of course, if another variant emerges or the COVID trends suddenly reverse course, we will reevaluate the appropriate safety protocols at that time,” Limacher said.

A United spokeswoman announced that the company still requires new employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Chief Executive of United, Scott Kirby, said in December that 200 of the company’s 67,000 employees did not comply with United’s mandate and were permanently let go.

Written by Savannah Pocock